Another reason to buy local

As a record number of container ships anchor offshore along the west coast of the USA, waiting to offload due to a a backup in supply chain transportation, some cargo fails to make it that far.

On October 22, the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard responded to a container vessel that lost 40 containers during heavy weather 40 miles from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The ship was in transit from Busan, South Korea to Victoria, British Columbia.

The shipping vessel Zim Kingston reported losing the containers overboard when the vessel heeled 35 degrees in heavy swells. The lost containers were initially reported to be general containers with no dangerous cargo.

Later that morning, the U.S. Coast Guard spotted 35 of the containers during a flyover, deploying a self-locating datum marker buoy to monitor the movement of the containers. Later in the day the Canadian Coast Guard learned that two containers overboard did contain hazardous material.

The following day, while Zim Kingston was moored 5 miles from Victoria, a fire broke out on the ship which now admitted to be carrying mining chemicals. A statement on October 24 from the shipping company that no injuries had been reported, and the fire appeared to be contained.

Both the US Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard continue to broadcast warnings as the containers pose a significant risk to mariners.

Source: USCG, Reuters